QB's skills cannot be replicated in practice

Michael Vick is the type of quarterback that NFL defenses have trouble with when it comes to game prep. How do you replicate his speed, his athletic ability and his explosive talent on the scout team?

During practice week, the Bears' No. 2 quarterback, Todd Collins, can throw the same routes that the defense would see from, say, the Patriots' or Colts' offense. He can emulate the pass drops and quarterback mechanics of a Tom Brady or a Peyton Manning. As a player, you understand the overall talent will increase once you get to the stadium, but the concepts, route recognition and offensive tendencies have been played out in practice.

That isn't the case when you prepare for Vick.

I played against him early in his career — twice in the 2002 season — when I was with the Packers. The second game came in the playoffs when he sent us home. We used scout-team running backs, wide receivers and backup defensive backs to model Vick during the week of practice. Put them in a red jersey with a No. 7 on the front and let them run wild. Coaches would instruct them to take a pass drop and go — sideline to sideline. It was the best we could do to replicate his athletic ability when he broke contain and challenged the edge of the defense.

But we aren't talking about the same player anymore. Inserting a player such as running back Garrett Wolfe as the scout-team quarterback isn't going to cut it, because Vick has developed into a more mature pro passer. He can run Andy Reid's West Coast system, keep his eyes down the field outside of the pocket and still look like the best athlete in the league.

So how do you prepare for a player with top-tier talent that you can't see in practice? Film study has to carry more weight. Use that Giants- Eagles tape to study Vick, his habits, why he is vulnerable when he rolls to his right and how he can wear down after consistent tackling. In practice, concentrate on your technique: footwork, rushing with contain principles, eye placement in your run-pass keys, etc. Get to your Cover-2 drops, read the route scheme and then pursue to the football with speed — just like you would on Sunday. Execute in practice, and it carries over to the game.

There is no way to simulate Michael Vick's game speed in practice. Until then, the Bears' defense has to control its own technique and understand the concepts of the Eagles' offense. That will give them a chance to limit his production. The rest? Just play football and accept the challenge of playing one of the NFL's best.

After playing at Glenbard West and Iowa, Matt Bowen spent seven seasons in the NFL as a strong safety with the Rams, Packers, Redskins and Bills, including playing for Lovie Smith and Mike Martz in St. Louis. When he's not writing for the Tribune, you can find his work at nationalfootballpost.com